Savea set for first Test start

Hurricanes livewire Ardie Savea is in line for his first All Blacks start, named at openside flanker for their clash with the Springboks.

Savea replaces the injured Sam Cane in the starting XV in his sixth Test, with the Chiefs captain set to miss up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.

Crusaders backrower Matt Todd will come off the bench, replacing Savea, with Lima Sopoaga the final change in the 23, coming on to the pine for Aaron Cruden (groin strain).

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said New Zealand would be wary of a desperate South Africa, who have one win from their first three Rugby Championship matches.

“We've worked hard this week on improving in the areas we felt weren't good enough last weekend. We're confident that those areas have been addressed and our performance will be improved," he said.

"Whilst we have been reasonably happy with our three games to date in the Investec Rugby Championship, we are always striving for improvement and with South Africa having their backs to the wall, we know nothing but our best will be good enough. Accuracy with intensity will be paramount."

The Springboks have made two changes for the clash, headlined by the inclusion of Pieter-Steph Du Toit in the second row after Lood de Jager bruised his knee in their clash with the Wallabies.

Vincent Koch will line up at tighthead for the Springboks, replacing Lourens Adriaanse in the starting team, while hooker Malcolm Marx is set for a debut off the bench.

Willem Alberts comes on to the bench for Du Toit and Damian de Allende returns to the 23 in place of Lionel Mapoe.

Springboks coach Allister Coetzee said he expected improvement from his side this weekend.

“Each match between these two traditional rugby rivals is always tough, no matter what the circumstances are, and Saturday’s Test is bound to be another tremendous battle,” Coetzee said.

“We know that our discipline was not on par against the Wallabies in Brisbane, and we have to show a big improvement on several fronts. Our defence will have to be solid for the full duration of the match, because the All Blacks have the game breakers that will punish you for any defensive lapse.”